E-Bike Editorial In Today's Ventura Star (USA Network)

[John Cinatl]

Hi Gang

This E-Bike editorial appeared in today's Ventura Star (part of the USA Network so it may have been printed in other USA Today's sister papers).

I'm forwarding without comment and will enjoy any further discussions by you folks.

John Cinatl, MCRP

Retired Caltrans 

[Ron Medak]

John,

San Diego (and Orange County) are incurring geometric increases in numbers of e-bike traumas involving admissions to Rady Children Hospitals.  Ages affected are primarily 12-15.  I doubt most of these are due to the souped up versions that Blakespear refers to.  Her bill and Boerner Tascha’s bill look to me mainly be a way to continue the e-bike industry’s sales to the 12-15 cohorts.  In Marin County and New Jersey e-bike riders now must be at least 16 years of age.  I think municipalities in San Diego should be doing the same, with the possible exception of allowing the Class I (pedal, non-throttle) e-bikes to be used by those age groups.  Unfortunately it is just a fact (and not a surprise) that the younger age children are not mature enough, on the whole, to handle these machines safely.

Ron

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "CABOforum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to caboforum+...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/2029672939.1187323.1784159350855%40mail.yahoo.com.

[clint.sandusky]

WHERE ARE THE PARENTS IN ALL OF THIS?!

Sent from my Galaxy

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/CA%2BK_zRXo3%3Dws3B3%3DjAC7h7---StjwYmSwa0%3Df1BPfq3aZAmR%2BA%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ron Medak]

Hi Clint,

I don’t know what role the parents played in the decision-making in New Jersey and Marin County, but I suspect it was a considerable one.  When my next-door neighbor’s 14 year old son started riding a Class II e-bike and I broached the subject of safety with him, he told me the e-bike was his worst nightmare.  I doubt he is an outlier.  Parents are busier than retirees like me.  If they aren’t savvy cyclists they may not anticipate the danger their kids are in.  In San Diego and Orange County I see 2025 as a real turning point as the trauma numbers rose dramatically, to the point of something must be done. 

Ron

[Jim Baross]

I believe that most parents consider a bicycle to be an innocuous plaything suitable for children's use with no need for skill beyond balancing, or traffic knowledge other than "stay out of the way of cars."

In my opinion, it was and is a mistake to classify eBikes as bicycles. We should have anticipated this. 

Jim Baross

CABO President

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/6a5a2df1.b47a2ac0.1753d4.19f1%40mx.google.com.

[clint.sandusky]

Hi Ron,

I do hear you.

My point is if parents -- in general -- cared about their kids and managed their behavior much of these overreaching laws in  various states would not be necessary.

Even a state like Utah (SB 381, partially in effect) are on the bandwagon with restrictive laws, which I believe will only lead to confusion and non-compliance!

But let's be honest -- the majority and real community concerns and dangers throughout the U.S. are with these illegal electric motorcycles (e-motos)! Bad and danger social media influencers, like the Sur Ronster, are poisoning our kids and young adults by promoting illegal, dangerous, and antisocial mob actions!

Respectfully,

Clint Sandusky

Retired Police Officer/Cyclist

CA POST-certified Bicycle Patrol Instructor (30 yrs.)

Cycling in Traffic Expert & Educator, CyclingSavvy

E-Bike Expert, Educator, Instructor, Author & Consultant⚡️

[Michael Graff]

Just about anybody can be a parent; no vetting or training is required. Should we be surprised if the occasional parent is not very good at it?

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/6a5a3dd6.65d1e16b.2509fb.71ca%40mx.google.com.

[Ron Medak]

Clint,

 

I’m sorry, but “if parents…”, but I find it pointless to consider problems from the point of view of inserting an “if” when it doesn’t apply to the present.  As a traffic commissioner I think it is my job to provide leadership to my community in increasing safety.  I think I have more experience, because of my quarter million miles biked and my interest in traffic safety, than most and am qualified to at least ask the right question and make suggestions to our city council.  In other words, I don’t need to qualify what parents are or are not doing presently.

The fact is that San Diego Rady Childrens is seeing a ramp-up in e-bike (Class II and III’s are better termed e-motorcycles, imo) trauma admissions from 0 in 2021 to ~145 in 2024 and 270 in 2025.  Trauma surgeons are reporting that the injuries are much more severe than those on conventional pedal bikes.  We are already on track for over 300 in 2026. The overwhelming majority of these kids are 12-15 years old.   Orange County has the same, exact situation.  I’ve seen zero data indicating that e-motos are the majority of e-bikes involved in the crashes.  As I am sure you know, Class II e-bikes can be “jailbroken” from their governors with a simple app, ramping up their max speed.  The only death I know of in Encinitas was a result of the 14 year old’s dangerous lane change to make a left turn.  He was not on an e-moto. There was another recent serious head injury crash in Del Mar with an identical scenario: inappropriate change of lanes to each the left turn lane from the bike lane on the right curb.  Entirely the fault of the 14 yo e-bike (Class II, or at least media reports stated nothing about e-moto, speed being a factor) rider.  I attribute these to 1) immaturity of the rider 2) lack of cycle savvy type vehicular bicyclist education in an urban setting.  

I think e-motos are being set up as a straw man argument by politicians such as Blakespear Boerner-Horvath in order to avoid the very real problem with Class II e-bikes and 12-15 year olds.  It is a way to divert the problem while allowing the e-bike industry to continue to sell to these kids.  I find it despicable, to say the least.  

[Ron Medak]

Michael,

There’s an old German saying: “Es ist leicht, ein Vater zu werden, aber es ist schwer, ein Vater zu sein.”  

Ron

[Michael Graff]

It feels like the original mistake was making US e-bike classes different from the Euro standards.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/CA%2BK_zRUyK%2B2Ua91SR_tmfE61Me2kDzVVWRkR9fyLdjE8kjt4WQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Pete van Nuys]

Michael, yes.
I heartily agree, early US e-bike makers-- which included the majority of popular bike brands-- ALL had throttles. There were no standard systems for true pedal assist off the crank and many early models put a rheostat controlled motor on the front wheel. I saw this evolve first hand as a sales rep for Bicycle Retailer, calling on any and all bike and e-bike brands in SoCal and AZ starting in 1994.

So for our market a throttle was considered mandatory. US consumers simply didn't understand a motor you couldn't rev up with your thumb. And Pedego was a major brand, capitalized by a guy with zero bicycle experience, and it drove the IBD market as we entered 2000. So before the Chinese started dumping and sheisters started sellin' 'em out of their garages, throttle controlled ebikes were being sold by IBDs.

Ironically, the bike biz NBDAish folks are trying to dial back on throttles, which led to the majority of the category sold through renegade retailers. (Many of the worst have closed up shop in my town now. A good sign.)

Here in San Clemente I have to agree, 
the majority of bad behavior occurs on 
"legal" Class 2 bikes with those 
"dual class" mopeds pushed by most of the Top73-Murph-Rad-types 
right behind.
Pete
 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/CANe0fGW9LNqSs6F%3DKe62L_yVfL9g_o%2BtR%2BOUfHBxSi_rN7_C6w%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ron Medak]

Pete,

Thanks for the info, putting meat on the skeleton.  I was just in Sweden for a month.  

Here are the rules over there which I wish we had here:

In Sweden, pedal-assisted e-bikes (often called Elcykel) are legally treated as regular bicycles if they strictly meet specific constraints. You do not need a driver’s license, registration, or vehicle tax, and they can be ridden on regular bike paths and cycle lanes. [1, 2, 3, 4]

To qualify as a standard bicycle, your e-bike must meet the following regulations: [1, 2]

Maximum Motor Power: The continuous rated power of the electric motor must not exceed 250 W. [1, 2]
Speed Cutoff: Motor assistance must progressively reduce and cut off completely once the bike reaches 25 km/h. (You can pedal faster using your own physical power, but the motor will stop assisting). [1, 2, 3]
Pedal Assistance Only: The motor must only provide assistance while you are pedaling. Pure throttle models (which propel the bike without pedaling) are generally not allowed unless the throttle only engages at walking speeds (up to 6 km/h). [1, 2, 3, 4]

        Additional Riding Rules:

Equipment: Legally, the e-bike must be equipped with a working bell, brakes, and lights/reflectors if riding in the dark. [1]
Helmets: Helmets are legally mandatory for riders under the age of 15. While not strictly mandatory by law for adults, they are highly recommended. [1, 2, 3]
Where to ride: In Sweden, you are required to have the landowner’s permission to ride any motorized vehicle (including e-bikes) off-road or on trails. Without permission, you must stick to public roads and designated cycling paths. [1]

What if it exceeds these limits?
E-bikes with motors between 250 W and 1000 W or those capable of speeds up to 25 km/h without pedaling are classed as Moped Class II. Faster electric bikes (assistance up to 45 km/h) are classified as Speed Pedelecs (or Moped Class I). These higher classes require a driver’s license (like an AM license), specific helmets, and compulsory vehicle insurance. [1, 2]

Licenses for the faster, throttle-driven models begin at 15 yoa.

Ron

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/caboforum/2e20d53b-5d2c-493f-ac2b-5a7ee09e2941%40cox.net.